22 March 2022
It is a composite material containing graphene flakes nano-additive. The additive makes the filament more robust and durable than PLA base material.
PLA and PET-G filaments are enriched with graphene flakes, which significantly improve such mechanical properties of the base materials as the elasticity or tensile modulus.
This material is a superior alternative to ABS, offering superior mechanical properties (similar to ABS) and the printability features of PLA. What is important, it does not emit any unpleasant odours while printing and offers the possibility of effective printing with any type of printer.
This filament is successfully used in the telecommunications, healthcare, automotive, aviation and aerospace industries. In everyday printing, it can be successfully used to print prototypes, construction elements, toys and items used daily.
Due to its properties, ABS has become very popular in various industries – it is used for the production of all kinds of casings, buttons, handles and others. It is durable, resistant and offers a good price to quality ratio. ABS features superior hardness, impact and abrasion resistance as well as high-temperature tolerance. It is not, however, UV resistant and becomes fragile after prolonged exposure to sunlight.
ABS can potentially cause problems during the 3D printing process as it has a significant shrinkage rate. It requires a high temperature for processing or a heated workbench.
PLA is the most popular material for 3D printing. PLA is called “green plastic”. It is made from natural ingredients such as corn starch and sugarcane, making it a biodegradable and safe material. It does not emit harmful vapours during the process. It is a good choice for beginners and those who want to effortlessly obtain a large print with good dimensional accuracy. Unfortunately, it also has disadvantages – lower strength compared to ABS and limited elasticity.
Polyglycolic acid (PGA) is a biodegradable thermoplastic polymer. PGA filament is excellent for structural prints. It is perfect for prototypes and prints that need a strong and durable structure.
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